Adapter for stokes litters



Jan. 1, 1952 c. E. CUMMISKEY ADAPTOR FOR STOKES LITTERS Original FiledJan. 8, 1946 Zlwumvbod C'harlesECwmmis/Zgy abbot/M4 Patented Jan. 1,1952 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE January. 8,. 1946.

This application November.

7, 1949, Serial No. 126,004

3 Claims. (01.35%82)! (Granted under the'act of March 3, 1883, asamended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This invention relates to anadaptor for a Stokes litter shown basically in U. S. Patent No. 820,026issued May 8, 1906 for use with web type of litter supports inambulances, aircraft, ships, and the like.

This application is a continuation of my application Serial No. 639,884,filed January 8, 1944, now abandoned.

Stokes litters are shallow wire baskets shaped roughly in the form of aman and are generally useful to the armed forces so that an injuredperson may be strapped in the litter, the litter suspended in a sling,lowered through hatchways, and at times even turned upside down withoutfurther injury to the person.

In order that the Stokes litter be used with web type of litter supportsin aircraft, ambulances and the like, some means of adapting the litterto the Web type of support is necessary.

An object of this invention is to provide an adaptor for use with theStokes litter which is of light weight, high strength and is easilyinstalled on a litter.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adaptor that requiresno special tools for installation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an adaptor havingmeans for spreading the load line contact.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a litter adaptorhaving means for easy engagement with supports in ambulances, aircraft,ships and the like.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art as the disclosure is made in the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention asillustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the litter supporting adaptor.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of two of the litter supporting adaptors clampedon the ends of a Stokes litter.

Fig. 3 is a detail view partly in section of a portion of the adaptortaken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. i

Fig. 4 is a detail view in section of a portion of the adaptor taken online 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the litter adaptor taken online 5-5 of Fig. 4 with the web support shown.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, in

Figs. 1 and 2, the litter adaptor I0 is composed of light weight steeltubing, or similar material, having a central portion H and portions l2and I3 bent backwardly toward the ends I 4 and I5 which aresubstantially parallel to the central portion II. By means of weld l6,handles I1 and iii are secured to ends I4 and I5 and each handle has acap member I!) inserted in the end.

Along the top of the adaptor I0 over the bent portions I2 and I3 furtherwelding 20 secures a reinforcing bar 2| to the adaptor 10. These are theportions of the adaptor which would normally come under the topperiphery bar A at either the head end or foot end of the litter frame.

Also secured by welding 22 to the :adaptor II are plates 23 having lugs24 similarly secured by welding 25 and 26 to the plates and to thecentral portion [0 respectively, as shown in Fig. 3.

Plates 23 and lugs 24 have a bore 24' therethrough to receive thethreaded end 21 of a J bolt 28. Washer 29 and wing nut 3| complete theassembly and form a means of securing the adaptor ID to the Stokeslitter frame member A. A burred end 3| on the threaded end 2'! preventsaccidental loss of the Wing nut 30.

In use, the adaptor I0 is inserted from either side in the frame of thelitter, under bars A and over bottom bars B, and clamped thereto by theJ bolt 28, the reinforcing bars 2| providing strengthening means at thepoint of contact and also at the point of curvature or stress. Handles.

I1 and I8 provide easy means of carrying the litter by hand and may beconveniently slipped into the web type support 32 shown in. Fig. 5, thecap members l9 serving as stops to prevent the handles from accidentallyslipping out of the web supports. When not in use on a litter, theadaptors may be readily stacked and lashed together, and due to theirlight weight present no considerable penalty load.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosurerelates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and thatnumerous modifications or alterations may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the invention as set forth inthe appended claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

1. An adaptor for use with a basket type 11tter, comprising a tubularbody having bent ends, handles at each end of said body engageable withweb type litter supports, stop members on each handle for restrainingmovement out of said supports, clamp means on said body engageable withframe members of a litter, and reinforcing means at the bent portions ofsaid body, said bent portions being in supporting contact with saidframe members.

2. An adaptor for use with a basket type litter, comprising a bodyinsertable laterally between and under frame members of a litter at oneend thereof, a horizontal bend in each end of said body in the vicinityof its points of contact with the frame member, reinforcing stripssecured to said body over said bent ends, clamp- 4 ing means on saidbody engageable with said frame member, and handle means fixed to eachend of said body insertable in the openings of web type litter supports.

3. The device as set forth in claim 2 in which the handle means are inlateral alignment with said clamping means.

CHARLES E. CUMMISKEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,082,177 Skeffington Dec. 23,1913 1,944,909 Thomas Jan 30, 1934

